With Jim Field.
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The Creston Police Department reports the arrest Thursday night, of 36-year-old Steven Marion Bochniak, from Creston. He was taken into custody at his home on charges that include Obstruction of Emergency Communication, and Domestic Abuse/3rd offense. Bochniak was being held without bond in the Union County Jail, pending an appearance before a magistrate.
The 7:05-a.m. newscast w/News Director Ric Hanson.
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Iowa District 21 Republican Representative Tom Moore, from Griswold, Friday (today), issued the third in his series of legislative newsletters, covering a variety of topics, including Broadband, Election Integrity, and the Second Amendment.
Expanding Access to Quality Broadband
HF 867: $100 Million for Broadband – The Iowa House passed the Administration and Regulation budget containing $100 million for broadband internet expansion. The Iowa House has made it a priority to not just increase broadband speeds, but make sure Iowans in “broadband deserts” get connected to broadband internet. Additionally, the House passed HF848 which set a framework for aggressively building out Iowa’s broadband infrastructure.
Strengthening Election Integrity
SF 413: Election Integrity – Because of the actions taken by the Legislature in the past, Iowa’s election system is safe and secure and in 2020 we had record turnout. But that doesn’t mean we can’t take actions to improve it. This session we passed SF413 to continue to improve our election laws to make it easier to vote and harder to cheat. Highlights of the bill include:
Second Amendment
SJR 7: Freedom Amendment – Iowa is one of only 6 states that currently has no language in its Constitution that protects the fundamental right to keep and bear arms. This amendment would add that right explicitly to our Constitution. Iowans will now get the final say on this issue on the ballot in 2022.
HF 756: Firearms Omnibus Bill – Whether you live in a city or in a rural area, your right to keep and bear arms is essential and Iowa House Republicans are committed to protecting it. This bill does not eliminate background checks as many are being misled to believe. It is actually likely to increase the amount and frequency of background checks on gun purchases. Highlights of the bill include:
HF 621: Clarifying Immunity for Firearms Manufacturers – This bill reestablishes that the responsibility for heinous acts relies solely on the perpetrator of the act, not on the manufacturer of the firearm or ammunition. Manufacturers would still be held accountable for defective firearms or ammunition.
(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission has received proposals from four companies to conduct a socio-economic study of the gambling industry. Racing and Gaming Administrator, Brian Ohorilko says it will be a two-part study. “This is a study that will look at socio-economic behavior — specifically if gambling increases crime, bankruptcies, and a number of socio-economic factors. The study also takes a look at economic factors,” according to Ohorilko.
Part of the study is required by law. “The socio-economic part is required by the statute. It’s required every eight years,” he explains. The economic portion of it was something that the commission had requested simply because of all the changes that have occurred since any type of study like this was conducted.” He says the economic portion will give them an update on the business side of things. “Specifically looking at the overall health of Iowa’s gaming industry. A lot has changed since the last time this was conducted — specifically sports wagering is now new to the state. There is increased competition in the state of Nebraska. So the study will be helpful for the commission and all Iowans in order to understand the market,” Ohorilko says.
He says they hope to choose one of the four companies to conduct the study by their July meeting.
Hawkeye Ten Conference
Western Iowa Conference
Pride of Iowa Conference
Missouri River Conference
Bluegrass Conference
Non-Conference
Hawkeye Ten Conference
Western Iowa Conference
Pride of Iowa Conference
Missouri River Conference
Bluegrass Conference
Non-Conference
(Radio Iowa) The Board of Regents Facilities Committee has given approval for an interior upgrade to the Hillcrest Residence Hall at the University of Iowa. U-I Vice President Rod Lehnertz, says the request for designs on the project was approved in 2019. He says the project will cost 23 million dollars funded by a combination of dorm revenue bonds and university housing renewal and improvement funds. He says Hillcrest was built in 1939 and is the largest dorm on the west side of the Iowa City campus. “At 267-thousand square feet, 820 students live within that residence hall Additionally, the residence hall serves all of the residents on the west side of the campus with food service for all of those halls, along with a fitness center, laundry, and a convenience store,” he says.
Lehnertz says the interior will get a total upgrade. “Door replacement throughout the building. Upgrades in drywall, veneer, flooring, painting, closet systems, window treatments in all of the rooms and then the service spaces that serve the building — including custodial closets, restrooms, study room furniture,” according to Lehnertz. He says the upgrades have proven to be popular with students. “For instance, Quadrangle Residence Hall on the east side is now 105 years old and still a very popular residence hall with students because of the modernizations,” Lehnertz says.
Lehnertz says the building will stay open and the work will be done over three years, mostly in the summertime.
(Radio Iowa) – Buena Vista University has opened a 25-hundred-square foot building in downtown Storm Lake that’s being described as an “idea incubator.” It’s called “The Foundry” and B-V-U president Brian Lenzmeier says the space is for students as well as businesses and entrepreneurs in the community. “This is a place where visiting businesspersons can idle for a while when they’re in town, bounce ideas off of colleagues, conduct meetings, do research and establish new contacts,” he says, “making connections to build out their businesses.”
The Foundry is already home to a tech start-up called Levity. It was launched by two computer science majors who graduated from B-V-U in 2020. Lenzmeier says there’s plenty of office space for other start-ups as well as open space for meetings and for self-employed people to share equipment and ideas.”It’s a place where budding entrepreneurs will be connected to not only the university, but to our Storm Lake community, to Buena Vista County and to northwest Iowa,” Lenzmeier said. Gary Sterling, The Foundry’s manager, started to get calls when details about the project were released earlier this year.
“I had one call specifically from Sioux City, one from Spencer with people actually asking: ‘Can I use your space? Can I use it to interview people? Can I use it to have a small meeting?’ And I’d say: ‘Well, we’re not quite there yet. We’re close. but give me your name and I’ll make you know when this is ready to go,'” he said, “so with that I knew we were doing the right thing.”
The Foundry is part of the Donald and Charlene Lamberti Center for Rural Entrepreneurship at Buena Vista University. Lamberti, the founder of Casey’s General Stores, donated two-point-nine million dollars to B-V-U in 2019 to establish the center and The Foundry was part of that original plan. A grand opening and ribbon cutting for The Foundry was held earlier this week.
Today: Partly-to Mostly Sunny, with a high near 90. Southwest winds 10-20 mph.
Tonight: Fair-to Partly Cloudy. Low around 64. South @ 5-10 mph.
Tomorrow: P/Cldy & breezy. High near 90. SW @ 10-20 w/gusts to near 30 at times.
Sunday: P/Cldy. High near 87.
Monday: P/cldy to Cldy w/isolated showers & thunderstorms possible. High near 87.
Thursday’s High in Atlantic was 86. Our Low was 53. Last year on this date, the High was 91 and the Low was 68. The Record High was 96 in 1914, and the Record Low was 31 in 1945.